Binos are of limited usefulness where I hunt because the cover is so close; even a stand on the edge of what passes for a clearing is surrounded or backed by trees, brush etc where a deer may approach unseen. Any movement can get you busted, even the slight lifting of one's head in reaction to a sound (as I found out last year!). I usually carry them, but mostly limit their use to verifying stuff rather than looking for it.
Have 2.5, 4, 6, and 8x scopes, but mostly use mid-range variables set on low in the woods. The dearth of good new fixed-power hunting scopes is one reason, but also that 2-7s are similar in size and weight, and often have generous adjustment ranges to boot. The Leupold 2-7s used to be my standard, but now I'll buy honest goods that meet my requirements at a fair price from anybody.
